Presidential debate seen as a waste of time<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's former military advisor,
\nGen. (ret) Soemitro, said yesterday that debate over the
\npresidential succession was a waste of time -- as "he knows" when
\nto step down.<\/p>\n
Soemitro, former chief of the now defunct Kopkamtib (the
\nOperational Command for Law and Order Restoration), said it was
\ntime-consuming and "not necessary" for people to get involved in
\nsuch a discussion.<\/p>\n
"People should not tell Soeharto to quit as he already knows
\nwhen he is supposed to vacate the presidential seat," he told
\nreporters yesterday.<\/p>\n
Soemitro was commenting on Soeharto's statement before Golkar
\nleaders Sunday that the dominant political organization should
\nprove whether people really supported his renomination for the
\n1998\/2003 presidential term. Soeharto also said he would readily
\nstep aside if the people choose another candidate.<\/p>\n
Soemitro said he believed that Soeharto would be reelected in
\nnext year's presidential election.<\/p>\n
"People should comprehend his (Soeharto's) statement as a call
\nfor the younger generation to prepare themselves for the day he
\nresigns," he said.<\/p>\n
Political observer Amien Rais of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity said yesterday there should be an open national dialog
\non Soeharto's statement.<\/p>\n
"We can ethically, openly, and in a responsible manner, talk
\nabout the state leadership candidates," Amien, who chairs the 28-
\nmillion strong Muhammadiyah Moslem organization, said in
\nSidoardjo, East Java.<\/p>\n
He said he did not believe Soeharto was merely trying to be
\ncourteous with his statement. "He really wanted some rejuvenation
\nin state political affairs," Amien said.<\/p>\n
Golkar should have the moral strength to nominate other
\ncandidates, Amien said.<\/p>\n
The people, not Soeharto, were to blame if the incumbent
\nPresident was undemocratically reelected, Amien said.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto would surely be very happy if he is reelected only
\nafter the people nominate him and several other names, make a
\ncomparison, and eventually choose him as the most appropriate
\nperson," he said.<\/p>\n
Members of the 1,000-strong People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) will convene next March to elect a president and vice
\npresident and endorse the Broad Guidelines of the 1998\/2003 State
\nPolicies.<\/p>\n
Political observer of the Surabaya-based Airlangga University
\nAribowo predicted there would soon be a lot of individuals or
\ngroups publicly expressing their support for Soeharto's
\nrenomination.<\/p>\n
Soehardjo S.S. and Yuwanto at the Diponegoro University's
\nSchool of Social and Political Sciences in Semarang both believed
\nSoeharto would be reelected for another term, but challenged the
\nMPR to limit presidential terms in the post-Soeharto era.<\/p>\n
Armed Forces (ABRI) spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan
\nsaid Soeharto would only accept Golkar's proposal if the
\npolitical organization could prove that people thought he was the
\nbest candidate.<\/p>\n
"Pak Harto would like to find out whether people really want
\nhim for presidency. Or were the people forced by Golkar to say
\nso?" he asked yesterday. (imn\/har\/nur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/presidential-debate-seen-as-a-waste-of-time-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}